How to Buy the Best Monitors for Designers

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Graphic designers have discerning taste. They want nice-looking products that appeal to their aesthetic. And they strongly desire technology devices that can help them in their creative endeavors. 

That’s why computer monitors have become such an important consideration for designers. They fundamentally understand that even as powerful as their computers may be, if they’re using an outdated monitor with an outdated resolution or poor color representation, they won’t be able to fully harness the opportunities their high-powered PCs deliver. 

Companies like Acer have long offered monitors specifically designed for creatives that come with a host of features they desire, including optimal brightness, outstanding color accuracy, and cutting-edge resolution. Those monitors may also come with touchscreens and compelling designs. 

But actually finding a monitor that hits all the right marks can take time and considerable effort. So we’ve compiled the following guide to discuss how designers can buy the best monitors on the market and the key features they should consider before they choose their device. 

Establish your budget 

As with any PC purchase, it’s important to know how much you want to spend on your next designer-inspired monitor.  

Since designers and creatives often need higher-end monitors, don’t get sticker shock when you see how much your desired screen may cost. But even if it’s a little pricey, you should find plenty of outstanding options at more reasonable price points if you don’t want to spend too much.  

Either way, it’s important that you choose your budget and stick to it. The sooner you know how much you’re willing to spend, the sooner you can start narrowing down your choices and finding the best model for you. 

Screen size and resolution considerations 

Screen size is an especially important consideration as you plan out your next monitor purchase. Most designers prefer screens that are on the larger side to give them more of a canvas to work with, so be sure to choose the options that tend to be a bit bigger. In most cases, screens that are 24 inches or larger should suffice for most designers, though pushing that to the 30-inch-plus size may be most appealing. 

Since you’re a creative who cares about design, you don’t want to skimp on your next monitor’s resolution. In most cases, creatives will want a monitor with at least a 4K resolution, though a 1440p resolution may suffice depending on what you plan to do with your monitor. Although some designers may have a 1080p monitor, those are quickly losing steam in the broader designer-focused monitor market in favor of higher resolutions. 

One other note on your screen: be sure to consider a touchscreen. Although not all designer-focused monitors ship with touchscreens, you may want to be able to use a stylus (an electronic pen that approximates the experience of using a pen or pencil in real life) while you work. Opting for a touchscreen could be a key ingredient in helping you find the best choice for you. 

Color accuracy matters 

Any true designer-focused monitor is all about color accuracy. Acer’s line of ConceptD monitors for designers deliver a 99% Adobe RGB color space ensuring proper color accuracy. You’ll also find a wide color gamut in most designer-focused monitors to create a better transition between tones and richer color profile. 

Remember HDR, Refresh rate, and more 

High dynamic range (HDR) is a close complement to color accuracy that you won’t want to miss in your next designer-focused monitor. HDR will help you enjoy more realistic and vibrant visuals, along with improved brightness, darker blacks, and whiter whites. 

You should also keep an eye on refresh rates in your next designer-focused monitor. Having a monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz or greater means you’ll see smoother 2D and 3D motion scenes as you work with video. And with additional tools like Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, you can easily match motion between the monitor and your computer’s graphics card. 

Some designer monitors even offer full support for 3D — a feature that not every designer may want but some creatives may find useful. Depending on the monitor, you can easily turn the 3D features off to allow you to switch to a traditional 2D environment whenever you want. 

The almighty aesthetic 

As important as technological features are in your next designer-first monitor, as a true creative, you don’t want to be looking at an ugly screen while you’re doing your work. That’s why so many designer-inspired monitors today come with compelling and unique designs. They often deliver interesting profiles, thin designs, and varied color options to match your style. And depending on whether you get a touchscreen monitor or not, you may also find that the stylus that ships with them is similarly designed with you and your aesthetic preferences in mind. 

There is a seemingly endless supply of high-quality options available and at first blush, they may all seem to equally do the job you seek. But further inspection reveals some designer monitors are better than others because of their combination of features, design, and extras. So do your due diligence and find a suitable monitor for you. You’ll be far more likely to enjoy your investment when you do.